The Once-Prestigious Jobs People Say Have Become a 'Joke', From Bank Managers to Journalists

A Reddit discussion asking which jobs were once highly respected but are now considered a 'joke' has sparked a debate about the changing status of work. Among the most prominent answers were bank managers, newspaper journalists, cabin crew, and travel agents, with users pointing to technology, changing business models, and shifting consumer expectations.

The discussion was not about whether these professions have become worthless. Instead, it exposed how careers that once carried visible authority, specialist status, or glamour can lose some of that social standing when the services they provide become easier to access elsewhere.

Bank Managers Lost Their Old Authority

One Reddit user described being a bank manager as 'very prestigious' in the past, arguing that managers had greater influence over lending decisions and that even bank tellers were regarded as professionals.

The banking industry has since moved much of its customer interaction online. Federal Reserve research found that the number of US bank branches fell 19% between 2014 and 2024, from 94,725 to 76,742. The shift has been accompanied by changes in how consumers access financial services.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for bank tellers to decline 13% between 2025 and 2035, citing online banking, mobile deposits, branch closures, and automation among the factors reducing demand. The change is therefore less about banking expertise disappearing and more about the local branch becoming less central to everyday financial life.

Journalism Lost Much of Its Print-Era Power

Journalism prompted some of the strongest responses in the Reddit thread. One user said newspaper journalism 'used to carry a lot more prestige,' while another argued that the bigger problem was the collapse of the print business model.

US data illustrates the scale of that transformation. Pew Research Center found that employment in US newspaper newsrooms fell 57% between 2008 and 2020, although digital-native news organisations expanded during the same period.

The economics of paying for journalism have also changed. Pew's latest research found that 83% of US adults had not paid for news in the previous 12 months, highlighting the difficulty of relying on subscriptions or direct payments from readers.

That does not mean journalism itself has become less important. Investigative reporting can still require months of work, specialist expertise, legal checks, and substantial resources. What has weakened is the old ecosystem that gave newspapers a powerful and highly visible position in communities.

Cabin Crew Lost Some of Their Glamour

The Reddit comment about cabin crew was considerably shorter: 'I heard being cabin crew is far less glamorous nowadays.' The perception reflects how commercial air travel has changed. Flying is no longer the exclusive experience it once represented, while cabin crew increasingly operate within a highly standardised, cost-conscious industry.

But the perceived loss of glamour should not be confused with a decline in professional responsibility. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says flight attendants' primary responsibility is passenger safety and security, including emergency procedures, first aid, and evacuation. It projects 9% employment growth between 2025 and 2035. In other words, the image of the profession may have changed more dramatically than the importance of the job itself.

Travel Agents Were Overtaken by Convenience

Travel agents provide perhaps the clearest example of technology replacing a service people once needed to access in person. Consumers can now compare flights, hotels, package holidays, and reviews online without visiting an agency. Travel planning has also become easier with digital tools and AI-powered services.

Yet the profession has not disappeared. BLS projects US travel-agent employment to remain broadly flat between 2025 and 2035, while noting that online resources and AI could limit demand. It also points to continuing demand for personalised advice and assistance with complicated travel arrangements.

Prestige Changed Without Making the Work Obsolete

The Reddit debate highlights a distinction between prestige and professional value. A career can lose some of its former status without the work becoming unnecessary or less demanding.

Banking still requires financial expertise, journalism still requires reporting and verification, cabin crew remain responsible for passenger safety, and travel specialists can still add value in complex bookings.

What has changed is the visibility and scarcity that once helped these professions command greater social status. As consumers gained more direct access to information and services, some of the authority once attached to the professional role moved elsewhere.